It has not gone unnoticed and we all have our issues with it, but the price of a gallon of gas has certainly climbed to unappreciated and unprecedented heights. There are a few things we can do about it and many of us are already altering our way of life to better deal with high gas prices.   I recently received an email from a high school classmate who shared his views about the price of gas and who is to blame. I didn't agree with him and shared my own views in, of course, a peaceful, factual and gentlemanly manner. He wrote back, along with several other classmates and friends who had been 'copied' to my response, and they agreed with my argument. It wasn't my intent to make any waves but merely to share my point of view and suggest ways we can all be better stewards of the earth and our limited natural resources.

 

In my email response, I made mention that Europeans and those in the Far East have long paid high petrol fuel costs. I remember the first time I was in Malta, way back in 1977, the price of a gallon of gas was 3 times the cost of what I would have paid back here in the States. My cousins laughed it off, though they did inform me that the cost of fuel in Europe has always been high and we Americans have it 'easy' compared to the rest of the world. Today, I have a greater appreciation for the financial hardships my European family and friends have had to endure with regards to fuel cost and the price of driving a car.

 

This brings me to the cost of faith: it is a practical issue that we must consider. I realize and appreciate the sacrifices we all make in order to celebrate our faith and in our efforts to support and strengthen our Community of St. Nicholas. It is, to say the least, an expensive endeavor. Just getting to church is costly as most of us drive to get there and back home. Maybe we can look at a simple solution like car-pooling and sharing rides to church. We all benefit this way; less gas is used, friendships are created and strengthened and we get to know our sisters and brothers that much better. Another idea: when we do come to church, whether on Saturday or Sunday, why not stay longer and get involved in some of the ministries of the church.   Sign up to help keep the facility clean and orderly. There is always some thing to be done as the church and hall are used every day. Stay late and get involved, have coffee with the community and share in lively conversation and discuss church issues. Be part of the study and discussion groups that currently and/or will be meeting on scheduled weekends. We will have more of these group gatherings in May, as we discuss the upcoming merge of St. Bede's and St. Nicholas.  And later in the year we will have more topics to share, study and discern.  

 

Of course, there will the Little Boots Rodeo and Life Line Health Screening in June, our church/community picnic in July, events in the Village, and the rummage sale in mid-August just to name a few events.   Why not stick around...we're already at church. So come and worship, celebrate, socialize, study and pray a while longer with the rest of the community. Let's stretch that gallon of gas and make full use of being at St. Nicholas. We are a community of faith...but we can be so much more to one another...we just need to stick around and be part of it all. After all, St. Nicholas Church is not just a weekend place. It is so much more and then some!   

 

-Manny 

manny@stnicholasepiscopal.org

 

National Day of Prayer is scheduled for Thursday, May 3rd.  Elk Grove Village will celebrate this joyful day with a Prayer Breakfast at one of our neighboring churches, Christus Victor Evangelical Lutheran Church.  The day begins with breakfast at 7am to be followed with a Prayer Service at 7:45 in the Sanctuary.  Members of the clergy and representatives from Alexian Hospital and Village's Social Services will lead the community in prayer.  All are cordially and warmly invited to come and celebrate.  Tickets are available at a nominal cost of $10.00.  Please see Manny if you are interested in attending. 

The Bishop's Committee met Sunday, April 15 and discussed the need to firm up our concept of our strategic plan, so that we can ensure that this is reflected in our identity designs, such as letterhead, brochures, etc.  Bob D. will organize the information shared in the CAT survey and will present the conclusions to the congregation, along with hte explanation that this will be a living, changing process.

There was also discussion of what kind of information we need to pull together to have available at the St. Nicholas table that we will host at Little Boots Rodeo.

Bob K. reported that we are currently well within the anticipated range of income and expenses.  Expenses continue to exceed income, but the figures are within a few hundred dollars at this point.

All are invited to help celebrate our 20th year of serivce at a Volunteer Recognition Luncheon to be held on Sunday, April 29th, from 2pm to 4pm. The gathering will be held at Christus Victor Evangelical Lutheran Church. Fun, games, raffles prizes and a Split the Pot raffle, too. Invite friends and family to come and enjoy. Please RSVP to Ann DeBartolo by April 23, 2012.  You can reach Ann at 847-364-1085 and/or at pighvn1@aol.com.  P.A.D.S., on a seasonal basis, serves the homeless and needy in the northwest suburbs and has sites throughout the Village at a number of houses of worship. 

Thanks to: